# US 9,438,055 B2 · Method for charging a power device of a portable device using a current-adaptive process

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- Number: US 9,438,055 B2
- Document ID: US9438055B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/472,389
- Filed: 2014-08-29
- Published: 2015-05-21
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-18
- Assignees: Simplo Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Simplo Technology Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Tai-Hung Chen; Shih-Chou Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438055B2

## CPC

- H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J 7/90: Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
- Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

In the charging process of a power device of a portable device, a control unit or firmware of the power device dynamically acquires the status of the charging current and the charging voltage, and by incrementing the charging current, the power device correctly obtains maximum charging current affordable by a charger without overly drawing the current from the charger that causes overly low charging voltage. Such current-adaptive charging process optimizes the charging process.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for charging a power device of a portable device using a current-adaptive process, wherein the power device is charged by a charger and the method comprises steps:
as the charger is charging the power device, detecting a charging voltage and a charging current of the power device and determining whether the charging voltage is above a predetermined voltage value;
if the charging voltage is above the predetermined voltage value and the charging current is yet to reach a maximum current value, increasing the charging current an increment amount;
if the charging voltage is below the predetermined voltage value, decreasing the charging current the increment amount and charging the power device with the updated charging current; and
if the charging voltage is above the predetermined voltage value and the charging current reaches the maximum current value, charging the power device with the charging current.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising step: setting an initial current value and the charger charging the power device with the initial current value when the charger is connected to the power device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the charging voltage and the charging current of power device is detecting the charging voltage and the charging current at a charging end of the power device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising step: after increasing the charging current the increment amount, stopping detecting the charging voltage and the charging current of the power device for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 5

A power device, comprising:
a charging end for being connected to a charger;
a power storage unit for storing power when the charging end is connected to the charger; and
a control unit, connected between the charging end and the power storage unit, the control unit utilized for detecting a charging voltage and a charging current, for increasing the charging current an increment amount when the charging voltage is above a predetermined voltage value and the charging current is yet to reach a maximum current value, for decreasing the charging current the increment amount and charging the storage unit with the updated charging current when the charging voltage is below the predetermined voltage value, and for charging the power storage unit with the charging current when the charging voltage is above the predetermined voltage value and the charging current reaches the maximum current value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The power device of claim 5, wherein when the charger is connected to the charging end, the power device is charged with an initial current value by the charger.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The power device of claim 6, wherein the initial current value is 1 ampere.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The power device of claim 5, wherein the charging voltage and the charging current is detected at the charging end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The power device of claim 5, wherein after increasing the charging current the increment amount, the control unit is further utilized for stopping detecting the charging voltage and the charging current for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The power device of claim 5, wherein the increment amount is one of the following: 20 milliampere, 50 milliampere, 100 milliampere, and 200 milliampere.